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The club has been informed that Chairman Jim McMahon will formally announce his intention to stand down from the role at the next AGM, currently scheduled for mid-February 2024.

He will leave the position by end of the season at latest, once a successor has been appointed and certain live projects have been completed. Jim has been a Director of the club since March 2001 and became Chairman in 2016, when the Well Society became the Club’s majority shareholder.

Jim initiated the discussions with John Boyle about how to move to fan ownership and led the work involved in framing the legal and financial structure of the Society. He was also the first 1886 member.

The club has now re-started the process to recruit a permanent CEO. Derek Weir, who took on the CEO job, on an interim basis, in April 2023, has advised that he wishes to exit the role by the end of March at the latest. Since 2010, Derek has held a number of positions, including Vice Chairman and Director of the club, the first Chairman of the Community Trust in 2011 and a Board member of the Well Society when it was founded in 2011.

He also represented the club on the SPL Board. He then agreed to become CEO when the Club’s initial attempt at recruiting a suitable, permanent replacement for Alan Burrows was unsuccessful. After he leaves the CEO role, Derek will step back from having any involvement with the running of the club.

These changes will form part of a wider Board re-structure currently being worked on. A resolution will be presented to the AGM seeking approval to increase the number of permitted Directors, with a view to increasing the size of the Board and broadening the range of experience.

“I have been a Motherwell supporter since my dad took me to my first game aged four,” Chairman Jim McMahon said.

“It has been a privilege to be the Chairman of the club I love and which has meant so much to me and my family. My key aim has always been to try to improve the long-term financial robustness of the club.

“It has become very clear over the last few years that for the club to operate on a sustainable basis, provide the manager with a competitive player budget, meet the vastly increased cost of our other activities including having a successful Woman’s Team and maintaining a fit for purpose Stadium, Training Ground and Academy facility, that it will require significant investment; funding on a similar scale to that received by many others in the SPFL.

“We have undertaken a large amount of work and held numerous discussions to explore how we could best achieve this. The final stages of a fund-raising initiative are almost complete and will be ready to be shared early in the New Year.

“It is therefore the right time for a new Executive team to work with the recently expanded Well Society Board, to take this on and put in place a long term operational and funding plan for the club.”

“Having grown up a few hundred yards from the ground and been a dedicated supporter since the mid-70s, I was grateful to John Boyle when he asked me to join the Board nearly 14 years ago,” Derek Weir added.

“Whilst working for an organisation you care passionately about can be extremely difficult, with many highs and lows, both on and off the park, I feel honoured to have had the opportunity.

“Having discussed at length with Jim, I agree the time is now right for others to take a fresh look at how the club is run and manage it through the next phase of its long history. I wish all those involved every success for the future.”

Jim and Derek will work with the remaining club Directors and Well Society Board to ensure a smooth transition to the individuals appointed to these roles. Both will be here to support and help in any way they can during that process.

The club would like to thank Jim and Derek for their dedicated service over many years and wishes them both well for the future.

Motherwell went to high flying St Mirren in search of a much needed three points. 

In heavy rain and gusty conditions, the first half passed by relatively incident free, with very few chances presenting themselves. The first big opportunity came for St Mirren at the start of the second half, when Stephen O’Donnell handled the ball in the penalty box and the hosts awarded a penalty.

Step forward Liam Kelly, who saved Mark O’Hara’s effort to keep the scoreline level. From then on, Motherwell took control.

Mika Biereth, Blair Spittal, Harry Paton and Theo Bair all had chances but couldn’t find a way past the St Mirren keeper.

It was a clean sheet for the ‘Well, their first since September 3, but the wait for a win goes on with Rangers next up.

Motherwell headed into the new year on a positive note, as the women of steel cruised past Dundee United to end their six-game winless spell at a windswept Foundation Park on Sunday.

Jo Addie converted the only goal in a promising afternoon for Paul Brownlie’s side, with the defender latching onto Sarah Gibb’s pinpoint delivery for her second goal of the 2023/24 SWPL campaign.

Head Coach, Paul Brownlie made two changes from the defeat to league leaders Rangers last weekend, with Kaela McDonald-Nguah and Carla Boyce returning to the starting XI, as summer acquisition Morgan Cross secured a place on the bench following a three-month spell on the sidelines.

Keen to replicate their dominant display over the Tangerines at K-Park in October, Motherwell started firmly on the front foot, with the visitors attacking setup forcing United into trading possession deep into their own territory.

The breakthrough almost came in the opening few minutes. Addie pickpocketed her opponent on the right flank, before chipping a dangerous delivery across the face of goal, as Boyce connected at the back post, but the strikers attempt failed to trouble the United stopper.

Moments later, Gibb’s first corner kick of the afternoon, floated precisely into the centre of the six-yard box, with Chelsie Watson’s initial attempt ricocheting off of the crossbar before falling to the feet of Louisa Boyes, who was denied on the rebound.

Less than a minute later, Watson was again denied by the woodwork. The referee adjudged a handball at the edge of the penalty area following a Bailley Collins strike, and from the resulting free-kick, Watson’s curling right-footed attempt rattled the near post.

As the half-time whistle neared, and Motherwell’s attacking frustrations continued to mount, the breakthrough finally emerged.

Gibb’s threatening delivery from the left continued to cause the hosts problems, with Addie rising highest above the United backline, to prod home at the back post.

Forward Morgan Cross returned to competitive action in the second half, and immediately impressed with her quick turn of pace. The winger teed-up teammate Bailley Collins after a driving run on the right, but Collins’ drilled effort connected with the crossbar for the third time of the afternoon.

United tried to rally late on, but the women of steel stood resolute to record a vital result, that narrows the gap to the top-six, ahead of a three-week hiatus over the festive period. Brownlie’s side will return to action in the first week of January, with a short-trip to Petershill Park to face Partick Thistle in the Scottish Cup.

Motherwell left Paisley with a point after a 0-0 draw with St Mirren.

Goalkeeper Liam Kelly was the hero as he saved Mark O’Hara’s 50th minute penalty to help his side earn a point.

Swirling wind and rain caused havoc as both sides struggled to carve out any good chances in the first half.

Greg Kiltie had the best chance of the first forty-five as he got on the end of Small’s cross but the winger mis-hit his shot and it looped over the bar.

Despite and evenly contested first half, the second half almost got off to the worst possible start for the Steelmen.

Marcus Fraser got in down the St Mirren right and his cross struck the hand of the sliding Stephen O’Donnell. Referee Craig Napier wasted no time in pointing to the spot.

Former Motherwell man Mark O’Hara stepped up but Liam Kelly was equal to his effort, diving low to his right and the Motherwell defence did the rest to clear the danger.

From there Motherwell looked the more likely to break the deadlock with a host of great chances.

Georgie Gent got the end of Blair Spittal’s free-kick but his header was straight at Hemming.

Then Blair Spittal was played in and although the midfielder did the hard part, cutting inside to beat Gogic, he couldn’t find the target.

Minutes later fellow midfielder Callum Slattery was played in and went down under pressure from Gogic in the box but this time the referee waved away the claret and amber claims.

Mika Biereth took advantage of some slack defending as he burst through 1-1 but the ball seemed to get caught in his feet and Hemming raced off his line to make the block.

St Mirren had a rare break upfield and Liam Kelly was called into action to beat away Thierry Small’s curling effort.

Stuart Kettlewell shuffled his pack, bringing on Oli Shaw and Theo Bair and the Canadian almost won it late on. He went through on goal but again Hemming did well to save with his legs and ensure his side went home with a point.

Motherwell will be frustrated to have left with only one point but Stuart Kettlewell will take positives away from this side’s performance.

Stuart Kettlewell reacts to the 0-0 draw with St Mirren.

Tricky conditions
Should have won with the chances we had
Defensively strong

With Christmas fast approaching, and many in the festive spirit, not everyone is looking forward to the December period.

Stuart Kettlewell and his team spent the afternoon handing out presents from the club, including 50 teddy bears kindly donated by the Motherwell FC Community Club, to the children at Wishaw General Hospital.

Davor Zdravkovksi was pleased to get his first start against St Johnstone last weekend but insists it’s only just a start and that he needs to do everything to get as many minutes as possible. 

The midfielder has aspirations of getting back into the North Macedonia setup but says that goal can only be reached by proving himself here at Motherwell.

Stuart Kettlewell provides an update on Dan Casey’s injury and the time he will likely be missing for.

The manager is also asked a question on his belief of Liam Kelly between the sticks and the potential swap for second choice keeper Aston Oxborough.

Pondering back to the St Johnstone match at the weekend, Kettlewell still believes a good run of form is just around the corner and that there were good signs going into this weekend’s match against St Mirren.

We can provide a more detailed update on Dan Casey’s injury suffered against Ross County. 

The Irish defender suffered the injury in the closing stages of the match and although initially it was suspected there could be a fracture, scans have revealed that hasn’t been the case.

Casey’s injury is an ankle ligament issue and will now face six to eight weeks on the sidelines.

Speedy recovery, Dan.

Match Preview – Dundee United (A)

All roads lead to the City of Discovery this Sunday, as the women of steel prepare to descend upon Dundee, with a crucial encounter against Dundee United awaiting at Foundation Park.

Motherwell’s last domestic victory came against the Tangerines in October, with a Bailley Collins double and strikes from Jo Addie, Gill Inglis, Kayla Jardine and Laura McCartney sealing an exceptional 6-0 victory at K-Park – concluding a five-game winless run.

Seeking to replicate their successes in East Kilbride on the road, Paul Brownlie’s side will be prepared to conclude the 2023 calendar on a high.

The Tale of the Tape

Motherwell

A positive performance over league leaders Rangers last weekend failed to be accurately reflected in the scoreline, as the Glasgow outfit cruised to a comfortable five-goal cushion.

As the festive period, and a four-week break from domestic football approaches, victory on Sunday will be vital in establishing the squads ambitions for the remainder of the campaign.

Head Coach Paul Brownlie will continue to have additional options at his disposal, as the squad continue their promising development from persistent injury woes. Morgan Cross will be doubtful after returning to full-contact training in the past week, with Eve Donald also making progress towards a return to action. Morgan Hay will remain unavailable for a place in the matchday squad.

Dundee United

After narrowly staving off relegation from the SWPL, with a four-point advantage over local Lanarkshire rivals Hamilton in the playoff position last season, United sit precariously above the congested bottom-three in the table.

Sunday’s hosts have also endured a turbulent domestic spell, with one solitary victory over Spartans in their last six league fixtures, yielding the sides only points in the last two months.

Strikes from Rachel Todd and Maya Knight overtured an early Montrose opener last weekend, as United looked to have regained some optimism, but a quickfire double in the dying stages of the game ensured victory for the Gable Endies

Ticket Information

Supporters can purchase tickets online, with cash & card payments are also available for this fixture on matchday

• Adult – £5
• Concession – £0

How to follow the action

Supporters can follow Sunday’s encounter on Twitter @motherwellwomen, with a full report of the action available post-match.